Stories from Monday, May 6, 1996

Move over Wimpy, make way for Alan Peterson. Wimpy, of course, is the Wimpy of the Popeye comic strip, created by Elzie Chrisler Segar at Chester, Ill., in 1931. The rotund Wimpy is famous for his fondness for hamburgers and the remark that "I will gladly pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today."...

April construction activity in Cape Girardeau was down 8 percent from April 1995. Totals for the month were reported at $1,271,450, compared to $2,437,466 during the same month a year ago, according to the city's Division of Inspection Services. Building permits were up, however, at 51, compared to 44 during the same period a year ago. But many of the permits were for decks, a pool, sheds, remodeling and repairs...

Judy Woods felt "lucky to be alive" Sunday afternoon after high winds ripped the roof from her Scott City home just as she grabbed her 3-year-old daughter Autumn and headed for the basement. "Whether it was a tornado or high winds," she said, "I just don't know what it was."...

SCOTT CITY -- The power was out but smiles were shining Sunday as Scott City residents bid retiring superintendent Doug Berry farewell. Berry, 55, served Scott City Public Schools for 29 years, first as elementary principal and later as superintendent. Before his move to Scott City, he spent five years as a physical education teacher at Washington Elementary in Cape Girardeau...

My friend Tina reported the other day that, according to a relationship quiz in a Glossy Women's Magazine, she and her new significant other (Code name: Pookie) are not destined to be Together Forever. Two observations. One, do you really want to spend the rest of your life with a man who allows himself to be called (in public, in front of HIS male friends) Pookie? I think his real name is Bill. Maybe Will. I've only heard it once...

May 6, 1996 7:30 p.m. Call to order Introduction of guests/visitors Non-agenda citizen input Adoption of agenda Approval of minutes Financial Affairs A. Monthly bills B. City Collector's Reports C. City Collector's Annual Reports Action Items Power and Light Committee...

To the editor: Hearing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas speak on campus in a judicial reasoning class was decidedly the most disappointing experience of our academic careers to date. Justice Thomas, though an educated and experienced judge, was dismissive of questions and comments by students and professors alike. ...

There has always been an air of temporary permanence about American politics, although it has more often than not eluded those who happened to win at the last election. America has been holding elections since 1782 and we have not in a single instance chosen candidates to occupy public office for the remainder of their lifetimes...

The Cape Girardeau County Commission has a good suggestion: A pooling of all the public transportation services operating in the county would provide more efficient service and better meet the needs of people who need transportation. For years an assortment of agencies, churches and a few businesses have been providing public transportation for elderly people in the county, but the needs of too many of the riders haven't really been met. ...

Here are some interesting statistics that came out of a new study by the Heritage Foundation regarding President Clinton's 1993 tax increase: Based on the economic model used by the government and Fortune 500 companies, the tax increase has reduced the growth in employment by 1.2 million jobs. In addition, the tax prevented the startup of 40,600 new business. And the tax resulted in $264 billion less in disposable income for the millions of middle-class Americans hit hardest by the increase...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Leo C. Parker, 82, of Olive Branch died Sunday, May 5, 1996, at his home. He was born July 21, 1913, at Miller City, Ill., the son of Howard Samuel and Elva Clark Parker. He was a retired carpenter and a member of Carpenter's Local 2119 in St. Louis...

Southeast Missourian readers will find survey forms in today's issue and in Tuesday's edition asking: What challenges exist in terms of making Cape Girardeau County a healthy place to live? Responses will be included with data collected in a series of town meetings held by the Healthy Communities Committee...

Monday, May 6 7:30 p.m. Cape Girardeau City Hall Public Hearings -- On the request of Lucile Fitzgerald Hirsch Sadler and Ellen Rohem Hirsch Mantia to rezone the southwest corner of the northern intersection of Kingshighway and Boulder Crest Drive from R-1 and C-2...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Paul Julius Ditto, 77, of East Prairie died Saturday, May 4, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 5, 1918, in Pascola, son of John and Fannie Lamar Ditto. On Aug. 13, 1938, in Whiting, he married Ruth Viola Bolden...

PERRYVILLE -- Frank A. Brown, 92, of Perryville died Sunday, May 5, 1996, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville.

CHAFFEE -- Robert Ual Lair Sr., 74, of Chaffee died Saturday, May 4, 1996, at his home. He was born March 22, 1922, in Eminence, the son of Edgar and Lula May Baker Lair. He married Viola Poole on Aug. 28, 1948. Lair retired in 1984 as a rock crusher for Lone Star Cement and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Cape Girardeau Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans and attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Scott City...

ANNA, Ill. -- William "Bill" Cash of Anna died Sunday, May 5, 1996, at Union County Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna.

ANNA, Ill. -- Rosalee Conant, 68, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, formerly of Anna, died Sunday, May 5, 1996, at her home. She was born July 23, 1927, in Union County, the daughter of Ralph E. and Ara Wayne Bird Casper. She married Don A. Conant on June 10, 1947, in Anna...

ADVANCE -- Lorene Kennedy Tidwell, 71, of Advance died Saturday, May 4, 1996, at her home. She was born Oct. 4, 1924, in Hawn, the daughter of Lillian Morlan Myers of Advance and the late Arthur Myers. She married Alfred Kennedy in 1943, and he died in 1965. She then married Virgil Tidwell in 1974, and he died in 1984...

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "What do you think is the reason for the increased price of gasoline?" Rachael Lintz, Cape Girardeau "Just so the oil companies can make more money." Ann Hirschfield, Cape Girardeau "Possibly because gas stations are having to pay more for oil. From what I understand ... the environmentalists (are) shutting down companies around the country. We're not producing any oil, we're getting it from foreign competitors."...

SCOTT CITY -- Registration for the swimming classes at Scott City will be held May 10 and 11 at the Scott City Pool. Registration begins Friday, May 10 from 1-4 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 11. Beginning swimming classes for adult and children will be held in the evenings...

Amy Monfort and Anne Sturtevant won two awards apiece Saturday night when the Black Mask Honorary Dramatic Society presented its year-end honors. The Davis-Barnett Awards recognize Southeast's drama students for achievement during the previous year's productions. This year's award ceremony was held at the Drury Lodge...

"Christmas for Kids," a Cairo based not-for-profit organization that provides an annual Christmas party and distribution of clothing, food and toys to area underprivileged children, ages 12-under, recently received a $1,500 grant from the York Children's Foundation...

The Orscheln Farm & Home Store at Cape Girardeau has been named one of the "Top 10 of Customer Service" in the chain of 74 stores. Stores were judged on preparing product displays for the spring season.

Edward D. Jones & Co. investments services will hold a National Career Day program at area Jones offices May 16. The event, to be held at the local offices of Joe and Donna Domian, 1749-I Independence and the office of Robert N. Etherton, 215 N. Sprigg, will feature a program to be broadcast live over the company's satellite network and will examine opportunities and challenges offered by a career at Edward Jones...

Drury Inns Inc. is one of the largest hoteliers in the St. Louis area. With the opening of a new Drury Inn Hotel at St. Peters, the company operates 1,890 rooms in the St. Louis area. The latest Drury Inn opened at Interstate 70 and Mid River Drive, and is adjacent to a Bob Evans Restaurant...

Small-town housing concerns will be discussed during a video satellite program Thursday at the Missouri University Extension Center, 815 S. Hope (Highway 25) in Jackson. Three key points -- diversity of small communities, why housing has become such a big issue in smaller towns and what individual communities are doing to provide more affordable housing -- will be covered in the program, said Rick Sparks, business and industry specialist at the extension office at Jackson...

Sabreliner Corp., which recently purchased the technology and equipment of a jet-engine maintenance operation in New Jersey, will move the operation to its engine repair facility in Neosho in Southwest Missouri. Sabreliner, headquartered at St. Louis, said the new maintenance operation will generate aboaut $10 million in annual revenue and should create 30 new jobs in Neosho over the next five years...

"The World of Syndication" will be the topic at the May meeting of the Advertising & Marketing Professionals of Southeast Missouri. Steven Orr Jr., director, Midwest Division, Buena Vista Television (part of Walt Disney Co.), will be guest speaker at the session, May 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Dumplins Banquet Room, 274 Mount Auburn Road, Lorimont Place...

Wade C. Adams has joined MedAmerica HealthNet Inc., the region's first physician-hospital organization, as executive director. Adams, who will work with hospitals and physicians within the network to coordinate development of HealthNet Blue in the community, most recently served as executive director of the Sunrise Health Group, LLC, a 24-physician management services group in Winston-Salem, N.C...

Homestead electronics opened recently at 3441 William in Cape Girardeau. The new electronic business, the newest agent location for Ameritech Cellular and Paging specializing in cellular telephones and pagers, is a branch of Homestead Distributing of Sikeston...

Keyworks has opened at 1909 Broadway. John Lashley of Cape Girardeau, who has more than eight years experience as a locksmith, is owner of the new business, which will provide residential, commerce and automotive lock services. Lashley is a member of the Associated Locksmiths of America...

Designers & More, a consignment shop at Jackson, has moved to 2102 E. Jackson Blvd. The shop specializes in new and used clothing, including name brands such as Levi's, Nike and Nautica. Store hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday...

Finch, Bradshaw, Strom & Steele, L.C., 3113 Independence, has changed its name to Bradshaw, Steele, Cochrane & Berens, L.C. The firm was established during the 1920s and is one of the oldest law firms in the area. Founders of the firm included Lehman Finch and James A. Finch, a former judge of the Missouri Supreme Court. Stephen E. Strom, longtime member of the firm, recently retired...